The MPs started fighting after the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, agreed to approve the action of the United One Kenya Declaration wing to fire Sabina Chege as Deputy Minority whip and appoint Embakasi West Member of Parliament Mark Mwenje in that position.
Wetang’ula said that he took the action after a Kiambu court issued an order to stop the changes approved by Azimio MPs at a meeting of the coalition MPs (PG) group last week.
Chege, who is a Member of Parliament for the Jubilee party, and who is among the party’s members of parliament who have rebelled against the coalition and decided to lean on the Kenya Kwanza wing, injured her left hand after she was allegedly hit with a bottle by a fellow female member of parliament.
Members of Parliament allied to the Azimio la Umoja coalition are planning to impeach National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
Their sentiments came shortly after Wetang’ula declined to accept the removal of Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege as the Deputy Minority Whip.
In a press briefing outside Parliament building, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said the team is drafting an impeachment motion which will be ready Tuesday.
He was given first aid by the staff of St John’s Ambulance before being rushed to the hospital for further treatment.
Azimio MPs were angered by Speaker Wetang’ula’s decision, accusing him of favoritism.
The other day, minority leader Opiyo Wandayi had written a letter to the Speaker informing him about Azimio’s decision to remove Chege and replace her with Mwenje.
But in his decision, Speaker Wetang’ula said that he cannot implement the change in the PG Resolution following the order issued by the Kiambu court after a case was filed there against the dismissal of Chege.
“I have given a decision that Azimio has followed all the necessary procedures and I do not oppose your decision to remove your deputy. But there is a court order which is strange that your union is not aware of. I suggest that you ask him to be involved in the case,” Wetang’ula said.
“The court order named the Speaker and the Parliament as defendants in the case against the administrative procedure,” he added.
But after Wetang’ula made the decision, riots broke out in the parliament, forcing him to expel seven members of parliament for misconduct and fueling the violence.
The expelled MPs are Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Rosa Buyu (Kisumu Urban West), TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka) and Chege. All of them were ordered not to attend parliamentary sessions for two weeks.
Fatuma Munyanzi (Malindi) and Catherine Omanyo (Busia Member of Parliament) were also banned from Parliament for five days while Machakos Member of Parliament Joyce Kamene was ordered not to attend two sessions.
“Among other offences, the MPs disobeyed the Speaker’s decision, made insulting remarks, attacked their fellow MP and showed behavior to lower the honor and status of this Parliament,” said the Speaker while being scolded by Azimio MPs.
After that, the opposition MPs left Parliament and addressed a press conference where they condemned Wetang’ula for inciting rebellion within the union and demanding approval for the dismissal of Chege.
By Hallan Emodia